The Dean of York has been forced to contact cathedral police after receiving
hate mail about the debate over where the remains of King Richard III should
be buried.

The Dean of York, the Very Rev Vivienne Faull, is understood to have received a string of abusive letters as the row intensified over the remains of the monarch, who was killed in the Battle of Bosworth in 1485.

The matter is currently being investigated by York Minster Police, the cathedral's specialist force, but could be passed on to North Yorkshire Police if any more messages are received by Dean Faull.

The bones of Richard III were identified in February after being discovered underneath a council car park in Leicester.

The find, one of the most sensational in archaeological history, has provoked a major dispute over the where the remains should be interred.

After Westminster Abbey and York Minister both made claims, it was decided that the monarch should be buried at Leicester Cathedral.

Dean Faull, who until recently had been Dean of Leicester, became embroiled in the row after York Minster issued a statement supporting Leicester’s claims to the remains.

It has been suggested that opponents have accused her of bias because of her previous links to Leicester Cathedral.

Hugh Bayley, the Labour MP for York Central, used a speech in the Commons to appeal for calm and disclosed that Dean Faull has been subjected to abuse as a result of the dispute.

"I received many letters and emails from members of the public about this, supporting burial in York,” Mr Bayley said.

“Most are thoughtful and well argued and based on scientific facts but some are frankly inflammatory and talking yesterday to the Dean of York, some that she has received at the minster are so extreme that she has referred the correspondence to the police.”

Mr Bayley added: “I would say to everybody - calm down. Let's all respect the memory of a former king of our country.

“Let's discuss where his remains should be put to rest in a dignified and sober way. We don't want to reignite the Wars of the Roses.”

Nine of the monarch's descendants have called on the Government to return the remains of the king to York for a "formal and ceremonial" burial, while a petition calling for his remains to be transferred to the northern city has been signed by more than 23,000 people.

However, Jeremy Wright said the decision was up to the University of Leicester, which discovered the remains.

“Now that the exhumation has been completed, it is the University of Leicester's responsibility as holder of the licence to decide where King Richard III remains are finally laid to rest,” Mr Wright said. “That is the law.

“Much has been made, not least today, of the fact that the people of York want the remains to be buried in York and I do understand the strength of feeling in York and Yorkshire more widely.

“However, I should make it clear that York Minster has openly supported the re-interment of Richard III's remains in Leicester Cathedral.

“It is also right I think to point out that the default position of the Church of England... is that the remains should be interred at the nearest Christian church and that of course is in this case indeed Leicester Cathedral.”

Richard III grew up at Middleham Castle in the Yorkshire Dales. He also funded part of York’s gated walls.

A spokesman for York Minster said: "York Minster has received a number of letters about Richard III, a small number of these have been abusive.

"These have been passed to the Minster Police, and they continue to monitor the situation closely."